Rescue Dog 'Practicing His Smile' Could Totally Be In Commercials
Dogs often look like they're smiling when they're happy. (Just like these smiling dogs who'll brighten your day.) For some dogs — like golden retrievers, who are often seen as pure rays of sunshine — smiling comes naturally. For others...not so much, even if they are happy-go-lucky pups, like this rescue dog who's been working on his smile. Still, we think it's a commercial-worthy grin if we ever saw one!
@valnmtz be nice to my son #dogsoftiktok #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #dogs
"Be nice to my son," reads the caption on the TikTok video before adding, "He could be a model." Then, the content creator goes on to say, "My dog has been practicing his smile, and I need you to tell him he has a nice smile," before showing the dog hysterically baring its teeth in an awkward expression.
"I love his smile ✨," said one person in the comments before dropping a jarring image of the clown from the "Terrifier" horror movie franchise. Meanwhile, another person just summed it up as "The bestest smile 🤗." We'll just be here waiting for this pooch's big ad debut!
Can you teach your dog to smile on cue?
Want to teach your dog to flash their teeth on command? With practice, patience, and treats, you can most likely teach your pup to "smile" on cue, although results may vary in the end (a la the dog in the TikTok video).
Start by gently stroking or tickling his or her whisker area or cheeks. If your dog pulls back their lips or slightly opens their mouth, immediately say "yes!" or another positive mark command, then reward them with a tasty treat. You'll want to keep sessions short and fun, repeating the exercise over multiple days. Once your dog gets the hang of making the expression when you touch their face, give the trick a name, like saying "smile" just before the gentle whisker touch. Then, mark and reward, repeating this pairing often. (Of course, always read your dog's body language, and if your dog is visibly uncomfortable or annoyed, you should stop the process immediately.)
Eventually, your clever canine should connect "smile" with the action without needing the face touch. Of course, your dog may also naturally smile, like during greetings, playtime, or belly scratches. The instant it happens, say "yes," offer a treat, and introduce the word "smile." Either way, eventually you'll get all the meme-worthy photos you dreamed of!